Individual School Information - S

(updated March 2019)

You will find an article on 2018 oversubscription data for grammar schools here, and for non-selective schools here. For Grammar School Preferences, only grammar qualified are counted. The PAN is the Published Admission Number and refers to the number of places available in the year group for each school. If additional places were offered, I have recorded this under PAN.

A Report on 2018 Appeals Outcomes here. For Attainment 8 and Progress 8 and further information on the performance of all Kent schools with 2018 GCSE scores go to here for explanation.

Sandwich Technology School.OFSTED July 2015 - Good.Reached its peak popularity in 2016 with the failure of Goodwin Academy in Deal along the coast. This has now recovered.

Simon Langton Girls Grammar School, Canterbury. OFSTED April 18 - Good again. School has encountered serious controversy 2016-17. Head teacher resigned, facing disciplinary action in March 2017, my most recent article here. Executive Headteacher of Simon Langton Boys appointed interim Executive Head of SLGSG until summer 2018, still with overall responsibility. Low proportion of girls staying into Sixth Form, 10% fall in numbers for September 2018, the draw of Simon Langton Boys being powerful. New main teaching block planned.

INITIAL ALLOCATIONS

PAN

1st

preferences

1st prefs

not offered

Vacancies

2014

165

164

7

0

2015

165

137

0

26

2016

170

152

0

7

2017

170

121

0

39

2018

165

135

0

19

2018

165

150

8

APPEALS FOR SCHOOL PLACES

Appeals Heard

Upheld

2014

28

13

2015

26

22

2016

32

21

2017

44

36

2018

45

29

I have a copy of the scores of the successful 2017 appellants and it clear that some with very low scores were fortunate. One had an aggregate score of 278 and no individual test score of 100 or more (100 being the score of an average child, and a minimum of 106 expected in all three subjects); another seven with two scores of less than 100. Seven took a test set by the school, which is not in the formal procedures. I cannot think of another grammar school in Kent that would admit numbers of children with scores as low as this; such successes requiring very exceptional circumstances. This casts serious doubt on both the credibility of the school and of the appeal panel which approved such large numbers. Success rate at appeal, with a KCC Appeal Panel consistently amongst highest in Kent .

PERFORMANCE DATA

Progress 8

Attainment 8

% 5A*-C (inc

Eng and Maths)

2014

n/a

n/a

98

2015

n/a

n/a

95

2016

0.28

67.0

Grade 5 & Above

English & Maths

2017

0.43 (AA)

65.8

n/a

0(A)

2018

0.39(AA)

67.7

90%

0.04(A)

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Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, Canterbury.The school gives priority to boys with 20 or more marks over the Kent pass mark, living within 9 miles of the school. OFSTED November 2013 - Outstanding (up one). Has been heavily oversubscribed in recent years, keeping to four forms of entry. Typically a net 93 additional boys and girls joined the Sixth Form from other schools for September 2018, second highest influx in the county. Enjoys an outstanding reputation developed through its strength in physics leading on to work on astronomy and space. Can admit up to eight boys above the 120 annually with EHCP plan for Autism. As successful appeal numbers show, this is in practice rarely above one, as the school will not go above 128 intake in total

INITIAL ALLOCATIONS

PAN

1st

preferences

1st prefs

not offered

2014

120

158

45

2015

120

133

17

2016

120

140

24

2017

120

165

51

2018

120

179

65

2019

120

144

Sharp rise in popularity for 2017, but down for 2019, although still well oversubscribed. All those boys who were offered places in 2107, apart from the exceptions such as siblings, were high scorers according to the criteria and living within 6.35 miles of the school, so many disappointed families including all those boys who did not reach and aggregate of 340. For 2018 entry, after four places were offered to boys in Special Categories, including EHCP Plans, the remaining 116 places went to boys who qualified by scoring over 340 in the Kent Test and living up to 7.093 miles from the school. Although the arithmetic in the appeal papers does not add up, some 36 boys with over 340 living further away did not receive places neither did any boy, however close, who passed with an aggregate score of less tan 340.

APPEALS FOR SCHOOL PLACES

Appeals Heard

Upheld

2014

30

8

2015

21

5

2016

30

8

2017

39

8

2018

53

7

Has own Independent Appeal Panel, uniquely in Kent of five members, for many years. For 2017, all eight of the successes were from the 31 who had been found of grammar school standard but lost out on distance grounds, the norm, as in 2018. Only exceptional appellants who are appealing on non-selection grounds appear to stand a chance, although the school continues to encourage many to go through the process. Won't go above 8, using maximum of four classes of 32.

PERFORMANCE DATA

Progress 8

Attainment 8

% 5A*-C (inc

Eng and Maths)

2014

n/a

n/a

93

2015

n/a

n/a

98

2016

0.41

68.0

Grade 5 & Above

English & Maths

2017

-1.38 (WBA)

49.1

n/a

-0.1(BA)

2018

-0.50(BA)

58.9

84%

-0.20(BA)

Academic performance good, but has been held back by poor English results in recent years. The school solution was to switch to the IGSE which is not approved by government, so the school has had some bad publicity for its very low place in the GCSE progress league table. Recent reports suggesting that IGSE is easier tend to support tactic. No such excuse for low A Level progress.

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Sir Roger Manwood's School, Sandwich. Kent's only boarding grammar school from the age of 11 for up to six new boarders each year, out of an intake of 150. OFSTED April 2012 - Outstanding.

Like the other Sittingbourne schools comes under pressure from applicants living on the Isle of Sheppey, many of whom will have put the school below the other two Sittingbourne schools, so doesn't show in this data.

2014 - 2016 no appeals for school admission

APPEALS FOR SCHOOL PLACES

Appeals

Upheld

2017

0

0

2018

0

0

PERFORMANCE DATA

Progress 8

Attainment 8

% 5A*-C (inc

Eng and Maths)

2014

n/a

n/a

22

2015

n/a

n/a

40

2016

-0.23

41.0

Grade 5 & Above

English & Maths

2017

-0.43 (BA)

34.2

n/a

0.12(A)

2018

-0.10(A)

38.2

21%

-0.70(WBA)

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Skinners' Kent Academy, Tunbridge Wells.This new Academy opened in September 2009, subsequently moving to new premises, replaced the perpetually failing Tunbridge Wells High School. Popularity soared under the new leadership and the school remains very popular. It is sponsored by The Skinners' Company. OFSTED June 2016 was Outstanding, along with the two Tunbridge Wells church comprehensives and two other Kent non-selective schools. See article on 2018 non-selective allocations in Tunbridge Wells. Pressure on places in TW saw increase in numbers and successful appeals for 2018.

INITIAL ALLOCATIONS

PAN

1st

preferences

1st places

not offered

2014

180

199

49

2015

180

218

72

2016

210

186

9

2017

180

214

74

2018

180

235

86

2019

240

204

Increase in oversubscription for 2017, 2018 partly due to reduction in PAN. Large temporary increase in 2019 at request of KCC (no doubt aided by extra funding) to help resolve TW pressures.

Skinners' School, Tunbridge Wells. Super selective, One of most popular grammar schools in county having selected on high scores alone in previous years so, because of its location near the county border the school took a high proportion of ooc boys. Radical change in oversubscription criteria for 2019 entry explained here and in detail here. After places set aside for Children in Care, siblings, children of staff members and on Free School Meals, up to 140 boys will be offered places from the Inner Area, with aggregate Kent Test scores of 360 or over awarded by nearest distance, and another 20 from the Outer area. OFSTED June 2007 - Outstanding, a long time ago. Heavily oversubscribed for 2019, although new entrance procedures have left many confused. Inner maximum distance 10.099 miles, Outer 8.694 (less than Inner because of N/S elongated Inner area). School notes 160 places provides five classes of 32 so no room for appeals unless school opens additional class.

INITIAL ALLOCATIONS

PAN

1st

preferences

1st prefs

not offered

2014

145

219

94

2015

150

228

95

2016

150

232

113

2017

155

268

143

2018

150

180

170

2019

160

232

Fourth most oversubscribed grammar school in Kent 2016 and in 2017, but slipped for 2018. Fifth for 2019.

APPEALS FOR SCHOOL PLACES

Appeals Heard

Upheld

2014

37

5

2015

29

5

2016

51

7

2017

52

4

2018

48

6

2016 appeal figure exceptional as the number of successes is normally 5 or fewer.

Spires Academy, Sturry near Canterbury. The new Spires Academy replaced the peristently failed Frank Montgomery School in Sturry and opened in September 2009. Its admission number was 120, smaller than most recommendations for secondary school sizes. There is further information here. The school moved into new purpose-built premises for September 2012, costing £13.2 million. Served with Government Pre-Warning Noticeover standards in October 2015. Was run by Executive HT from Simon Langton Girls, but Government concerns over poor standards under her leadership. She resigned and the school was taken over by the E21C Trust in October 2017. Large staff turnover to 2017, stabilised for 2017/18.

INITIAL ALLOCATIONS

PAN

1st

preferences

1st places

not offered

Local

Authority

Allocations

Vacant

places

2014

120

86

0

9

2

2015

120

90

2

0

0

2016

150

97

0

21

0

2017

150

69

0

39

6

2018

150

86

0

34

0

2019

150

123

0

7

7

The closure of Chaucer Technology College in 2015 saw pressure on places, hence the large rise in LAAs in subsequent years. On allocation 2018 there were no vacant spaces in Canterbury and District, apart from Community College Whitstable. Tended to be lowest choice in local schools, place taken by Archbishops.

2014 - 2017 no appeals for school admission.

PERFORMANCE DATA

Progress 8

Attainment 8

% 5A*-C (inc

Eng and Maths)

2014

n/a

n/a

35

2015

n/a

n/a

17

2016

-0.28

40.1

Grade 5 & Above

English & Maths

2017

-0.49 (BA)

32.1

n/a

Not enough

entrants

2018

-0.30(BA)

35.4

17%

Not enough

entrants

GCSE performance at the school had been amongst the lowest in Kent up to 2016, when there was a considerable improvement, but 2017 saw Attainment 8 third worst in county, and Progress 8 eighth lowest. 2018 saw improvement under new management.